The Rubberbandits

The Rubberbandits
Blindboy Boatclub (left) and Mr Chrome (right)
Blindboy Boatclub (left) and Mr Chrome (right)
Background information
OriginLimerick, Ireland
GenresComedy hip hop, hip hop, satire, prank phone calls
Years active2000–present
Members
  • Dave Chambers
  • Bob McGlynn
Websitewww.youtube.com/user/Rubberbandits

The Rubberbandits are an Irish comedy hip-hop duo from Limerick city. They consist of Blindboy Boatclub (real name Dave Chambers) and Mr Chrome (sometimes Bobby Chrome;[1] real name Bob McGlynn).[2] During performances and interviews, they conceal their identities with masks made from plastic shopping bags. They are often accompanied by DJ Willie O'DJ, a silent masked caricature of local politician Willie O'Dea (portrayed by several consecutive men, including Spin South West DJ Paul Webb).[3] The group describe themselves as artists, and have dubbed their movement as "Gas Cuntism".[4]

Chambers and McGlynn met while attending Ardscoil Rís, Limerick. Primarily a satirical stage and television act, they have performed throughout Ireland, the UK and the US with shows at events such as Electric Picnic,[5] Oxegen and the Bulmers International Comedy Festival.[6] The Rubberbandits first rose to prominence in December 2010, when their music video "Horse Outside" went viral on YouTube.[7] They have since won awards for both their music and comedy. In 2011, the duo were declared "Best Irish Act" at the entertainment.ie awards,[8] and also won an IFTA award for "Horse Outside".[9]

The duo have also been involved in television, creating sketches for RTÉ, MTV and Channel 4, writing and starring in a Channel 4 comedy pilot, and writing and narrating the ITV2 series The Almost Impossible Gameshow. In 2016, they created The Rubberbandits' Guide to Everything, a mockumentary TV series for RTÉ.

  1. ^ "Rubber Bandits & Ray Foley-Union CY – 9 euro". ulsu.ie. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012.
  2. ^ "London One More Time !". therubberbandits.com. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. ^ Irish Independent – Jokers unmasked as middle-class lads – 17 December 2010. Independent.ie. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  4. ^ Owens, Alan (17 February 2015). "The Rubberbandits take the Fistfight to the Abbey". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Rubber Bandits plays Electric Picnic 2009". Electricpicnic.ie. 6 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  6. ^ "MCD.ie". MCD.ie. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  7. ^ Hendicott, James (22 March 2012). "The Rubberbandits – Live in NYC". state.ie. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  8. ^ The Entertainment.ie annual awards Archived 10 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Entertainment.ie. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  9. ^ Winners of the Irish Film & Television Awards IFTAs | Irish Film & Television Academy | Irish Film & Television Awards. Ifta.ie. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.